france Archives - Page 25 of 31 - History of Royal Women

One step closer to sainthood for Marie-Antoinette’s sister-in-law

Monday, 13 November 2017, 17:47 Moniek Bloks 1

Élisabeth of France had just celebrated her 30th birthday when she was removed from the Temple, where she had been imprisoned with her sister-in-law, Marie-Antoinette, Marie-Antoinette’s daughter Marie-Thérèse and son, now King Louis Louis XVII. Only Marie-Thérèse would emerge from the Temple alive. Élisabeth was executed on 10 May 1794 along with 23 others. She reportedly conversed [read more]

Saint Gatien’s Cathedral – The Children of Anne of Brittany

Wednesday, 11 October 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The first cathedral on this site was built from 337 to 371 but burned down in 561. It was restored and rededicated in 590. It was completely rebuilt in the 12th century and again burned down in 1166. The building of the current cathedral began as early as 1170. Construction took place well into the [read more]

Château de Chenonceau – The White Queen’s Refuge

Wednesday, 4 October 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 1

The current château de Chenonceau was built between 1514 and 1522 and replaced a medieval castle. It was built by Thomas Bohier, Chamberlain to King Charles VIII of France. In 1535, the château was seized from Bohier’s son by King Francis I of France for unpaid debts. His son, King Henry II, gave the château to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. Diane created [read more]

Fontevraud Abbey – From abbey to prison

Wednesday, 20 September 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 3

Fontevraud Abbey was founded between 1110 and 1119 and was located in what was then the Angevin Empire. As a monastery, it was home to royal and noble ladies and it became the burial place of Eleanor of Aquitaine, her husband Henry II and their son Richard the Lionheart and the wife of their son [read more]

Chateau d’Amboise – Between mourning and hope

Wednesday, 23 August 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Chateau d’Amboise began its life in the 15th and 16th century under the successive Kings Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I. It acted as a residence for all of the Valois and Bourbon Kings. It was the home of Charlotte of Savoy, wife of Louis XI, who gave birth to the future Charles [read more]

Sai Bennett as Mary in The Spanish Princess

Mary Tudor – The rose among the lilies of France

Friday, 28 July 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 4

Mary Tudor was born on 18 March 1496 as the daughter of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Sheen Palace, later known as Richmond Palace. She joined her siblings Arthur, Henry, Margaret in the nursery at Eltham. Her elder sister Elizabeth had died that previous September and two younger siblings, Edmund and Katherine [read more]